$Unique_ID{BRK00125} $Pretitle{} $Title{How Do You Keep Hepatitis From Spreading?} $Subject{hepatitis prevention treatment Infection Infections liver globulin viruses virus viral Infectious Type A B D Non-A non-B fecal feces food foods contaminated transfusion needles tattoos ear piercing transfusions tattoo pierced} $Volume{A-8} $Log{ Diseases of the Liver*0016101.scf} Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc. How Do You Keep Hepatitis From Spreading? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ QUESTION: When a fellow worker recently came down with hepatitis, our entire office went mad trying to figure out what had to be done. It seemed as if each of us has different information from our private physicians; some required globulin shots, others did not. We are still wondering if we are facing a lurking threat to health and would appreciate your comments. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ANSWER: It is easy for me to understand this confusion and the differing opinions, and I hope by sharing some knowledge with you, some of the mist may be blown away. To start with, hepatitis is a common disease, cause by several viruses, and probably attacks more than a million Americans each year. To add to the confusion, there is more than one kind of hepatitis. Type A generally affects children and used to be called Infectious Hepatitis. Type B was formally known as Serum Hepatitis. There is a Type D, that can only infect individuals who already are infected by Type B. Confused enough? No?! Well then there is Non-A, non-B Hepatitis probably caused by one or two associated viruses, and for which we have no laboratory test and do not fully understand its route of spread. Type A hepatitis is found in fecal material, and direct contact with infected foods (raw clams, oysters, mussels) or drinking water and contaminated dishes can spread the disease quickly. Type B is transmitted by the virus which is found in all body fluids of an infected individual, by transfusion, contaminated needles, tattoos, ear piercing and the like. Without exact knowledge of the diagnosis of your work mate, all the physicians (including myself) would find it difficult to recommend the exact procedure to follow. The use of Immune globulin is still debated, yields variable results, and is expensive. As a general rule, if there was no close personal contact with the infected person, no sharing of personal items (or sharing of needles!), the chances of transmission are small, and it is my belief that you and the other employees may now relax. ---------------- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical problem.